Helleborus plant named ‘Alexia’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Helleborus  plant named ‘Alexia’, characterized by its upright, outwardly spreading and mounded plant habit; dark green-colored leaves; early and freely flowering habit; long flowering period; and light green-colored flowers.

Botanical designation: Helleborus×nigercors.

Cultivar denomination: ‘ALEXIA’.

CROSS-REFERENCED TO CLOSELY-RELATED APPLICATIONS

Title: Helleborus Plant Named ‘EMMA’.

Applicant: Thierry van Paemel.

Ser. No: 12/584,855.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofHelleborus plant, botanically known as Helleborus×nigercors, andhereinafter referred to by the name ‘Alexia’.

The new Helleborus plant is a product of a planned breeding program inOostkamp, Belgium. The objective of the breeding program was to createnew vigorous Helleborus cultivars with early and freely flowering habit.

The new Helleborus plant originated from a cross-pollination conductedby the Inventor in Oostkamp, Belgium in February, 2003 of a proprietaryselection of Helleborus×nigercors identified as code number 80-0062, notpatented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection ofHelleborus×nigercors identified as code number 80-0061, not patented, asthe male, or seed, parent. The new Helleborus plant was discovered andselected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within theprogeny of the stated cross-pollination grown in a controlled greenhouseenvironment in Oostkamp, Belgium in April, 2005.

Asexual reproduction of the new Helleborus plant by tissue culture in acontrolled laboratory environment in Lochristi, Belgium since May, 2005,has shown that the unique features of this new Helleborus plant arestable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Helleborus have not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment and cultural practices such as temperaturelight intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Alexia’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Alexia’ as a new and distinct cultivar ofHelleborus:

-   -   1. Upright, outwardly spreading and mounded plant habit.    -   2. Dark green-colored leaves.    -   3. Early and freely flowering habit.    -   4. Long flowering period.    -   5. Light green-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Helleborus differ from plants of the female parentselection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Helleborus are stronger than plants of the        female parent selection.    -   2. Plants of the new Helleborus and the female parent selection        differ in flower color as plants of the female parent selection        have white-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Helleborus differ from plants of the male parentselection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Helleborus flower earlier than plants of        the male parent selection.    -   2. Plants of the new Helleborus have longer lasting flowers than        plants of the male parent selection.

Plants of the new Helleborus differ from plants of the Helleborus‘EMMA’, disclosed in a U.S. Plant patent application Ser. No. 12/584,855with this application, primarily in flower color as plants of ‘EMMA’have white-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Helleborus can be compared to plants of Helleborus‘Pink Beauty’, not patented. Plants of the new Helleborus differprimarily from plants of ‘Pink Beauty’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Helleborus are more vigorous than plants of        ‘Pink Beauty’.    -   2. Plants of the new Helleborus have darker green-colored leaves        than plants of ‘Pink Beauty’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearanceof the new Helleborus plant, showing the colors as true as it isreasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type.Colors in the photograph may differ slightly from the color values citedin the detailed botanical description which accurately describe thecolors of the new Helleborus plant.

The photograph comprises a side perspective view of a typical floweringplant of ‘Alexia’ grown in a container.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photograph and following observations, measurementsand values describe plants grown in Maasdijk, The Netherlands in 13-cmcontainers during the winter in an outdoor nursery and under conditionswhich closely approximate commercial Helleborus production. During theproduction of the plants, day temperatures ranged from −2° C. to 25° C.and night temperatures ranged from −5° C. to 15° C. Plants had beengrowing for 17 months when the photograph and the description weretaken. In the following description, color references are made to TheRoyal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2001 Edition, except wheregeneral terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Helleborus×nigercors ‘Alexia’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of            Helleborus×nigercors identified as code number 80-0062, not            patented.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of            Helleborus×nigercors identified as code number 80-0061, not            patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By tissue culture.        -   Time to initiate roots.—About 60 days.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant.—About six months.        -   Root description.—Thick to thin, fleshy; white to brown in            color.        -   Rooting habit.—Sparse; moderately branching.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant form and growth habit.—Herbaceous perennial; upright,            outwardly spreading and mounded plant habit; flattened            globular; moderately vigorous growth habit.        -   Plant height.—About 19.6 cm.        -   Plant diameter (area of spread).—About 40.8 cm.-   Foliage description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Palmately compound with five leaflets per leaf.        -   Leaf length.—About 14.4 cm.        -   Leaf width.—About 16.4 cm.        -   Leaflet length.—About 12 cm.        -   Leaflet width.—About 4.5 cm.        -   Leaflet shape.—Elliptic to slightly obovate.        -   Leaflet apex.—Acute.        -   Leaflet base.—Attenuate.        -   Leaflet margin.—Serrate.        -   Leaflet texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth, glabrous;            leathery.        -   Leaflet venation pattern.—Pinnate.        -   Leaflet color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Between            139A and 147A. Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to            146A. Fully developed leaves, upper surface: Between 139A            and 147A; venation, close to 144A to 144B. Fully developed            leaves, lower surface: Close to 147B; venation, close to            152A to 152B.        -   Petiole.—Length: About 13.9 cm. Diameter: About 5 mm.            Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color,            upper and lower surfaces: Close to 146D tinged with close to            176A.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower shape and habit.—Single rotate flowers arranged in            terminal panicles; freely flowering habit, about 31 flowers            developing per plant; flowers face upright to outwardly;            petals not observed.        -   Fragrance.—Not detected.        -   Natural flowering season.—Long flowering period; plants            flower throughout the late winter in The Netherlands.        -   Flower longevity on the plant.—About ten days; flowers not            persistent.        -   Flower buds.—Length: About 1.8 cm. Diameter: About 1.3 cm.            Shape: Obovate. Color: Close to 145A to 145B.        -   Inflorescence height.—About 19.6 cm.        -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 11.4 cm.        -   Flowers.—Diameter: About 5.5 cm. Depth (height): About 2.3            cm.        -   Sepals.—Arrangement: About five in a single whorl. Length:            About 2.7 cm. Width: About 2.4 cm. Shape: Broadly ovate to            orbicular. Apex: Rounded. Base: Obtuse. Margin: Entire.            Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color:            When opening, upper surface: Close to 145B. When opening,            lower surface: Close to 145C; towards the base, close to            145B. Fully opened, upper surface: Close to 144B; towards            the margins, close to 145C; color does not fade with            development. Fully opened, lower surface: Close to 145C;            towards the center and base, between 145B and 147D.        -   Peduncles.—Strength: Moderately strong. Length: About            14.4 cm. Diameter: About 6 mm. Aspect: About 10° from            vertical. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 146D            tinged with close to 176A.        -   Pedicels.—Strength: Moderately strong. Length: About 1.5 cm.            Diameter: About 2.5 mm. Aspect: About 35° from the axis of            the peduncle. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to            146D tinged with close to 176A.        -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: About 90.            Filament length: About 1.1 cm. Filament color: Close to            145D. Anther shape: Reniform; basifixed. Anther length:            About 1.5 mm. Anther color: Close to 2B. Pollen amount:            Scarce. Pollen color: Close to 2D. Pistils: Quantity per            flower: About five. Pistil length: About 9 mm. Stigma shape:            Club-shaped. Stigma color: Close to N144A. Style length:            About 8 mm. Style color: Close to 145A to 145B. Ovary color:            Close to 145A. Nectaries: Quantity per flower: About ten.            Length: About 7 mm. Diameter, at apex: About 2 mm. Diameter,            at base: About 1 mm Shape: Tubular. Color: Close to N144C.            Speeds/fruits: Seed and fruit development have not been            observed.-   Garden performance: Plants of the new Helleborus have been observed    to have good garden performance and to tolerate rain, wind and    temperatures from about −20° C. to about 35° C.-   Pathogen/pest resistance: Plants of the new Helleborus have not been    shown to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Helleborus.

1. A new and distinct Helleborus plant named ‘Alexia’ as illustrated anddescribed.